Mind-mapping tools

Structuring complex processes is part of the daily grind in many organizations. To help people understand their decision and thought processes, mind-mapping programs depict process steps graphically. Users can view an onscreen tree view to visualize dependencies.

However, visual clarity depends on the design possibilities offered by the mind-mapping program: Illustrations break up abstract content, and different font attributes emphasize the relevance of individual project steps. I tested five mind map programs to see how their design features compare.

CmapTools

CmapTools [6], developed at the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, is available for several platforms. Its license is proprietary, but the software is free of charge. The website also features a server variant for an on-premises server and an iPad version. You can also use CmapTools in the cloud, which does not require a dedicated application on the client, just a web browser.

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